ESL Saigon

Instant decisions with “will” | ESL/EFL lesson plan

This lesson is a game from the beginning to the end. It is not the most orthodox approach and it is not something I have tested before (we have played games before but not this one and not for this purpose) but the whole lesson is based on two well know teaching principles: have fun learning English through games and students need a reason for any task the teacher ask them to complete.

The focus of the lesson: Using “will” for instant decisions
Size of the class: 40 students
Age: 14 years old/grade 8
Level: Beginner/A2
Length of the lesson: 45 minutes

Below is the blackboard plan.

The word-search part with the words that have to be found is just an image projected on the board. The target and the boys vs. girls table score are drawn by the teacher. The list of sentences between the target and the table score will be created by the students.

Normally, the rules of using “will” should be well known by the students since they have studied the grammar part of the lesson before. All they have to do is to use “will” in a sentence and if I’m lucky enough they will use the sentence in a short scenario. All they have to know is:

“Will” is used for instant decisions

“Will” is followed by a verb in base form

Stage 1

Set up the board (as is shown in the first image and explained at the beginning of the lesson plan).

Stage 2

Divide the students into two or more groups (boys and girls in my case).

Stage 3

Explain the rules of the game:

Identify a word in the word-search, circle it and cross it out in the list (as is shown in the example on the board plan) – 1 point.

Use the found word in a sentence expressing future simple with “will” (as is shown in the example on the board plan). The sentence has to be spoken first then written on the board – 3 points.

Use the sentence in a short scenario (Example: Do you want to eat chicken or beef? Today I will eat chicken.) – 5 points.

From given distance throw the classroom wipe to the target drawn on the board – maximum points that can be obtained is 5 (according to each student accuracy).